It’s National Health Education Week, sponsored by the Society for Public Health Education. Health education range from large-scale campaigns, like tobacco-free kids or getting 30 minutes of exercise, to outreach to underserved communities, like bringing farmer’s markets to inner city neighborhoods. Health education and disability cross paths in many ways, from prevention of injury to management of chronic conditions to health aging with a disability. Here are some resources from the NIDILRR community and elsewhere which you may find helpful as you plan health education efforts in your community, or as you manage your own health now and in the future!
- The Health Matters program was initially developed by the NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Developmental Disabilities and Health. The evidence-based, 6-hour training provides structured information on how to organize and start a tailored physical activity and health education program for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) in community-based residential and day/vocational agencies.
- The Women Be Healthy curriculum, developed under a NIDILRR field initiated grant, teaches women with intellectual and developmental disabilities about managing their health, particularly health screenings such as mammograms and cervical cancer screenings. The curriculum is available for health educators. Fact sheets are available for self-advocates and health care professionals.
- The Life Skills Manual, also developed under several NIDILRR field initiated grants, teaches essential life skills for people with mental health disabilities transitioning from homelessness to stable housing. It includes sections on food and nutrition management, as well as a section on home and self care.
- The NIDILRR-funded RRTC on Psychiatric Disabilities and Co-Occurring Medical Conditions has several health education programs including smoking cessation, diabetes management, and a guide to putting on a health fair. This RRTC is also supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
- The NIDILRR-funded Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center offers factsheets and modules for people with spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and burn injury.
- If you’re aging with a physical disability, or a healthcare provider who works with people aging with these disabilities, the NIDILRR-funded RRTC on Promoting Health Aging for Individuals with Long Term Physical Disabilities has excellent articles and factsheets.
- Several NIDILRR-funded centers offer educational videos on health-related topics:
- Interested in research in health education? See what the NIDILRR community has written on the topics of health education and health promotion, then explore our full range of health education literature. If you’re interested in particular articles, give us a call or email!
